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Tuesday, June 9

Blog like there is nobody reading

While some might struggle with the concept of blogging like no one is reading, for yours truly here, it is a piece of cake. There is no one reading, well next to no one. Given that this little space of mine is incredibly new and I haven't really told people about it yet it almost goes without saying that next to no one will be reading whatever I write here.

Which is actually a bit sucky because over the years I have realised that I do like to think that people are reading the various random thoughts that have managed to escape my brain and enter the wonders of the internet.

I have never been a writer that has written only for myself to read. In fact quite the contrary. I seem to only be able to write when I am under the impression my words will be read by at least someone rather than no one. Well apart from a few tormented teenage diaries that I went out of my way to ensure were never read but that was well before the internet existed.

As much as this space here is a new one for me, I have been writing on the internet for many years now. From memory, my first post is dated January 2008. While it is currently over on A Parenting Life, it was originally over at Rhianna's Random Rambles or something like that. It was never a space I felt very at home in, even though I designed and created it myself. Perhaps that was the problem though, all the headers were made by me with very little graphic knowledge and I couldn't help but feel it was gaudy and rather ugly.

Over the years though I created APL as a place I loved dearly and was incredibly at home in. Before I left on #ouradventureofalifetime last year my readership and community had peaked higher than ever before. It felt all kinds of awesome. I felt like I was connecting to people regularly and sometimes even making a difference to people thoughts and days.

Once we hit the road though blogging regularly became rather difficult. Mainly because the road we hit was in the middle of nowhere and without internet reception but also because we were just so busy living life. Mind you even when I did manage to get something up on the blog it wasn't nearly as well received as my posts were before we left. Which was the exact opposite of what I had expected to happen. Before we left I was certain that sharing our adventure would lead to even more readers than ever before. Turns out no one was overly interested in reading about how great it was escaping from normal life.

I had expected that once life returned to normality that the blog would immediately return to the state it was in before we left. Needless to say it hasn't and suddenly it no longer feels like home. Which makes me a little sad. I had thought the answer was to be found here at Rhianna Writes because that is such a cool name but sadly that hasn't been the case, well at least it has not been the case yet but in all fairness it is still incredibly early days.

More than anything I want to be a writer. And have done so for as long as I can remember. It is the whole reason I started blogging. A platform to make myself feel like a writer.

There was a time when I was actually paid to write articles and have them published online. It wasn't a lot of money but it was enough to make me feel like a real writer. They were mainly parenting related articles because I had read somewhere that you should write about what you know. As a stay at home mum I felt I knew little else than parenting. Which is how I came about the name A Parenting Life.

Even though I am still a stay at home mum and my life revolves around parenting it is not a topic I want to exclusively. Mainly because as I delve deeper into the teenage years I find myself less sure of what I am doing and therefore not in a position to write about parenting unless it is how to do it badly. Which is again one of the reasons I though Rhianna Writes might be a good idea.

One of the biggest things I have learnt over my time as a blogger though is that it is imperative to comment on other blogs. Which is perhaps where I have fallen down over the last twelve months. Something that I hope to get back now that life has settled back down a little.

With that in mind I think this is a perfect place to end this post, it was inspired by Raychel who has founded Blog Exchange and since it is Tuesday and I have blogged I am joining in with EssentiallyJess for IBOT so there may well actually be a chance this post will get read. Also joining in with Kristy for I must confess

I read it!!! We have just returned from a month overseas and limited internet access (16 Euro per hour on the cruise ship, get real!) so although I scheduled posts before I left, I didn't do any visiting or commenting myself and hardly any social media either (and too busy having a good time!). My stats definitely dropped but heck yeah, it was worth it!!!

I'm reading it! I have just discovered you in recent weeks and this is my second visit so rest assured, someone will be popping by! I have just started out on my new blog too and trust me, I know how disheartening it is to write and feel like no one is reading. You can feel excitement at the post and then ... nothing. No comments. It was a hard phase to weather and I wondered why I was bothering but joining up with IBOT has definitely helped me along :) Keep at it! And trust me, you are not the only one with your head in your hands at times going 'What the hell am I doing?!' when it comes to parenting! Haha.

No one I see in person reads my blog anymore so I don't have to worry. There are a few people who know me in real life that drop by but we don't get to see each other in the flesh anymore. I actually miss having people tell me they read my blog

I've just liked your FB page, Rhianna. I somehow didn't notice that you'd changed from APL to Rhianna Writes. I feel so ashamed, especially seeing we are IBOT buddies!!! I'll definitely be tuning in to read more of your words :)

I read it! I wish you all the best. I think 'just keep writing' helps... sort of... Do you listen to the podcast So You Want To Be A Writer from the Australian Writers Centre? I find it really inspiring and good company as well - Allison Tait and Valerie Khoo are really chatty and funny. Worth a shot to get the juices flowing x

Thanks lovely. Yes just keep writing is the best way to get around it, and normally that is exactly what I do, has been a little tricky of late. I haven't really done the whole podcast thing, I have heard of that one though

I'm here! And reading too! I mainly write to make my buddies laugh, and anything else is a bonus. It definitely is much nicer to have people read the contents of our head, otherwise we might as well just have piles of dusty diaries stashed away somewhere.

Very true about the dusty diaries, which is exactly why I blog, even just the possibility of someone reading is enough to motivate me to share. You do a great job at getting your buddies to laugh as well lovely

What a journey you've had so far and I'm looking forward to following you here.

I think blogging is sadly 80% promotion and 20% content when you are starting out and not much changes over time if you continually want to grow. It can be a lot of hard work finding and maintaining your audience. I wonder if you journeys so far wouldn't make the basis for a wonderful book.

I completely get where you are coming from with the teen parenting side of things. I too feel like I'm treading water in this department and you are at that stage that teens don't really want you to be blogging about their business, only making things worse.

Thanks so much for jumping on board our first challenge with Blog Exchange.

Yes I have always been rather cautious about what I have shared of the kids rather than tell their stories just shared general experiences. Promotion is most definitely the key. Thanks so much for starting up the Blog Exchange

I don't think I could ever give up, I blogged for quite a few years in the early stages without anyone reading, I have the stats to prove it as well. I guess just having had readers it is hard accepting they are no longer with me

I don't really get the blog like no one is reading bit, mainly because I decided awhile back I'd write what I want and hopefully there were enough like minded people out there interested. We have a certain level of ego and vanity that makes us watch our stats...or in my case, continue to send out short stories for validation in competitions...As for the teen years, you are not alone. You are on a big cruise ship where every single passenger is saying 'wtf?!?!' almost daily....(I do like the refreshing honesty of other teen parents. I've found complete strangers have a candid honesty that no toddler or baby mother has) No one gives you patronising advice, everyone one just pats you on the back and says 'man, that sucks!' or "tell me about it!" (Still can't comment on aparenting life?? And don't call me nobody - I'm reading. Write like Lydia is reading)

Blog like there's nobody reading is all about re-discovering your blogging voice. Not everyone approaches blogging like you and most people censor their inner voice for fear of judgement for starters. This is only a small part of what the challenge is about and just the tip for what Blog Exchange has to offer.

I totally get that feeling of needing your words to be 'heard' (or more accurately, read) I often feel like I am writing to thin air on my blog, and regularly consider throwing it in. Yet here I am, 4 years later, still chugging a long. And look at all these comments you've gotten! Everyone is reading, you just have to believe in yourself xx

I know how you feel Rhianna! Blogging can be such a roller coaster ride of highs and lows. Just keep doing what makes you happy. I've learnt that I have to stop worrying so much about numbers, stats, likes, comments etc. I went away recently for 2 weeks and I didn't bother scheduling posts before I left. Why wear myself out doing that? I had heaps of more important stuff to get organised before we left. I posted to Instagram while we were away and started back on the blog when we got back. I don't think anyone really noticed my absence anyway *sigh*. Just be you and do what makes you feel happy! ;-)

Fairy wishes and butterfly kisses to you, thanks for stopping by, it really means a lot, you taking the time so say hi. I try as much as I can to write a reply but if for some chance I don't get to it please know that I always read them.